'Pimple' & Acne Treatments
Common Problem for teenagers & adults
Acne is a common skin problem affecting many teenagers and adults. It usually begins at the time of puberty due to changes in hormone levels and increased activity of male sex hormones, like testosterone. These hormones are present in females as well. Acne can unfortunately continue into adulthood or even begin in adults. It affects 25% of men and 50% of women at some time in their adult lives, while 80% of teenagers have acne at some point in their adolescence. Usually acne clears up by the time we reach our thirties, although it can last well into our forties and fifties. While it is not a life-threatening problem, acne can lead to permanent scars and psychological damage.
See Acne 'Before & After' Photos
Why & How: Acne Information
Acne occurs when a hair follicle or “pore” within the skin becomes plugged with oil (sebum), trapping a certain type of bacteria and allowing it to grow. Testosterone increases sebum production. The culprit bacterium in acne is Proprioniibacterium acnes. At first either whiteheads or blackheads form, a.k.a. “comedones.” Whiteheads (closed comedones) develop from sebum and bacteria trapped below the surface of the skin. Blackheads (open comedones) occur when the trapped bacteria and sebum are partly exposed to the air. The reaction of the skin to these bacteria is inflammation, which can create redness and possibly a resulting pimple. Deeper areas of inflammation can create cysts or nodules, which may be painful, are filled with pus, and look like a bump on the skin surface.
Laser acne treatment and topical acne medications include:
- ALA – Aminolevulinic Acid HCl
- Acid Skin Peels
- Thermage
- Topical Medication
Acne Prevention & Treatment
People often wonder what they can do to prevent acne. Myths exist that certain foods like chocolate and junk foods high in processed sugar and fat cause acne. No studies have shown a true link between diet and acne, but individually people may notice that certain foods make their acne worse. Similarly, there is no evidence that Coca-Cola™ or milk cause acne flare-ups. Another myth is that stress causes acne. Stress does not cause acne, but will make existing acne worse. Dirt on the skin does not cause acne either. In fact, scrubbing your skin too much can make acne worse because of the irritation to your skin. Sun exposure does not improve acne. A tan will only temporarily make acne appear less blotchy. The risks of tanning, such as skin cancer, wrinkles, and blemishes, outweigh the benefits of smoothing blotchy skin.
Acne can be controlled, but is not curable. Before discussing acne treatments, it must be understood that it takes time for acne to clear. On average, six to eight weeks are necessary for early results to be noticed. Also, not everyone’s acne is the same and will not necessarily respond the same to treatment.
A gentle skin cleanser should be used twice a day. You should talk to your skin specialist about which one is best for your skin type. If your skin is oily, something like Spectro Jel™ works well. Try not to pick at pimples or black/whiteheads as this can cause spreading of acne to non-infected skin. Any cosmetics used should be “non-comedogenic” and this information can be found on the labels. Topical medications and products (put on the skin) can be used in less severe cases of acne, but oral (by mouth) antibiotics and other medications may be needed.
Acne Scar Treatment
To deal with acne scarring, options include chemical peels, laser resurfacing, thermage and a skin care product regime.